Mr Jones was at a high-security coin storage facility in Belfast to celebrate what he called a “tipping point” in the replacement process.

The new coins were first introduced on March 28, with the old coins ceasing to be legal tender on October 15, even though they can still be banked after that date.

Mr Jones noted that 3% of all the old coins were counterfeit.

“That basically adds up to almost £50 million of fake coinage in circulation in our country and that is very bad for our economy,” he said.

Andrew Jones holds new one pound coins during a visit to the G4S Cash Solutions Facility in Newtownabbey (Liam McBurney/PA)

The minister said there had been no evidence of counterfeiting with the new coin.

“There have been no problems identified at all so far,” he said.

“Obviously that is something the Royal Mint monitors very carefully but we have had no incidents at all of counterfeiting thus far.

“This is a very, very secure coin. The Royal Mint estimate that this is the most secure coin in the world at the moment and they have their own individual and rather secret method of security which is new in this coin.

(Victoria Jones/PA)

“You have to stay one step ahead of the counterfeiters but that’s exactly where we are right now.”

Mr Jones urged people to bank, spend or donate their old pounds before the October deadline.

“To have more new coins in circulation than old at this point is great news,” he said. “However, with less than 100 days to go, the clock is ticking.”

Chief executive and deputy master of the Royal Mint Adam Lawrence said: “The Royal Mint is very proud to have delivered the new 12-sided £1 coin and ensuring a smooth transition is now our top priority.

“We hope our announcement about the changeover point in July will encourage those businesses who have not yet upgraded their equipment to do so ahead of the October 15 deadline.”